Without Partition By Metes And Bounds, Co-Sharer Cannot Seek Recovery Of Possession: Supreme Court Clarifies Limits Of Order VII Rule 7 CPC Supreme Court Holds Plaintiff Entitled To Declaration Of Title Over Undivided Half Share Despite Claiming Entire Property Under Gift Deed Supreme Court Reaffirms Legality Of Remainder Of Natural Life Sentences Without Remission, Dismisses Batch Of Writ Petitions 'State Cannot Take Advantage Of Its Own Wrong': Supreme Court Holds Promotees Entitled To Count Ad Hoc Service For Seniority If Within Quota 'Elevators Are Common Carriers, Entail Heightened Duty of Care': Supreme Court Upholds NCDRC Order Holding OTIS Principally Liable For Death Due To Malfunctioning Lift Supreme Court Dismisses Compensation Claim Under Motor Vehicles Act, Holds Reach Stacker Operating in Custom-Bonded ICD Area Is Not a "Motor Vehicle" Missing ACRs Due To Illegal Termination Cannot Block Higher Judicial Pay Scales: Supreme Court Grants Relief To Rajasthan Judicial Officer Subsequent Suit Generally Transferable To Court Where Earlier Suit On Same Subject Matter Is Pending: Allahabad High Court Successive Anticipatory Bail Maintainable Under BNSS If Fact Situation Changes Or Previous Findings Become Obsolete: Andhra Pradesh High Court Tenant's "Deemed Purchaser" Right Defeated By Retrospective Notification Under Section 88(1)(b) Of Tenancy Act: Bombay High Court Buyer Not Entitled To Refund Of Earnest Money Once Sale Deed Is Duly Executed Under The Agreement: Calcutta High Court Contradictory Pleas Vitiate Defence; Drawer Liable Even If Signed Blank Cheque Was Handed Over: Delhi High Court Working Mother's Relocation To Another City Not A Ground To Completely Deny Overnight Custody To Father: Karnataka High Court Civil Courts Barred From Granting Injunctions Against SARFAESI Actions Even If Partition Suit Is Maintainable: Kerala High Court S.147 NI Act Is A Special Law, Overrides S.320 CrPC; Offence Can Be Compounded At Any Stage Even After Dismissal Of Appeal: Madras High Court Appellate Court Can Allow Additional Evidence To Ensure Fair Adjudication Even If Not Produced In Trial: Madhya Pradesh High Court Police Can Freeze Bank Accounts Under Section 106 BNSS Upon Suspicion Of 'Proceeds Of Crime': Punjab & Haryana High Court

"CRIMINAL LAW" Digest

Seized Vehicles – Return Pending Trial – Petitioner, the registered owner of the vehicle No. WB 32J-4623, challenged the rejection of his request for the vehicle’s return, seized for allegedly transporting commercial quantities of ganja – High Court examined precedents and legal provisions regarding interim custody of seized vehicles – Held that seized vehicles may be...

Negotiable Instruments Act – Compounding of Offence – Petitioners sought to compound the offence under Section 138 of the N.I. Act – Application dismissed by the appellate court due to lack of consent from the complainant – Court emphasized that consent of the complainant is essential for compounding under Section 147 of the N.I. Act – Distinguished from the Supreme C...

Mental Health – Competence to Stand Trial – Petitioner, suffering from paranoid schizophrenia with 95% mental disability, found unfit to stand trial – Multiple medical reports and testimonies confirm severe mental disorder – Court directs postponement of trial against the petitioner and continuation against co-accused – Emphasis on provisions under Sections 328, 329, ...

Bail in NDPS Cases – Prolonged Pre-Trial Detention – The court addressed the issue of prolonged pre-trial detention for the petitioners, emphasizing that they had been in custody for more than three years (or approximately two and a half years for some) without significant progress in their trials. The court highlighted that such extended detention, without the completion of trial, vio...

Bail Application – Regular Bail – Appellants accused of drug smuggling and financing terrorism – Held in custody for nearly four years – High Court granted bail emphasizing the constitutional right to speedy trial and personal liberty – Bail granted with strict conditions despite stringent provisions under UAPA and NDPS Act [Paras 1-29].   Constitutional La...

Criminal Law – Quashing of Proceedings – Petitioner Biplab Jana @ Rohit sought quashing of proceedings in Marishda Police Station Case No. 148 of 2015, charged under Sections 306/34 IPC for abetment of suicide – Allegations included continuous harassment and attempted molestation leading to the victim’s suicide – The petitioner claimed he was falsely implicated due to...

Maintenance – Quantum Determination – True Disclosure of Income and Assets – Petitioner challenged the order directing him to pay maintenance to the respondent – Contention that the petitioner's unemployment and lack of documentary evidence regarding income were not considered – Court emphasized the requirement of true disclosure of income, assets, and liabilities...

Bail in Economic Offenses – The court evaluated the petition for regular bail considering the principle that bail is the rule and jail the exception. It acknowledged the Supreme Court's stance that while the gravity of economic offenses warrants sensitivity, it does not justify an automatic denial of bail. The court emphasized the need to balance the liberty of the individual against the...

Pension and Gratuity – Withholding due to Criminal Cases – Petitioner, a former lecturer, sought release of pensionary benefits – Criminal cases pending but no conviction – No departmental proceedings initiated – Held, pendency of criminal cases without conviction is not a ground for withholding pensionary benefits – Cited precedents affirming pension as a right...

Quashing of FIR – Section 482 CrPC – Petitioner sought quashing of FIR alleging cheating, criminal breach of trust, and caste-based abuse – Allegations involved inducement to pay large sums to bribe judges – Court held FIR cannot be quashed as investigation is at a preliminary stage – Specific allegations of serious nature requiring investigation – Petitioner gr...